Do You Have a Plan?

While it may not be visible itself, a positive plan for the future of the business is key to actually moving toward a positive future. Business owners should be prepared to spend what it takes to generate new business, and they should take time to explore new possibilities for long-range success.

If the company currently has no mission statement or business plan, creating one will be evidence of the owner's enthusiasm for the future and for the ongoing success of the operation. If the company has a mission statement or business plan that no longer fits current conditions and needs, it may be time to revisit and revise the statement or plan.

To write / rewrite your mission statement, here is a great article from Entrepreneur.com... "How to write your mission statement"

Watch our blogs for the next several weeks, as we will be covering several issues to consider in the everyday running of your business. Issues that will prepare you for an eventual sale, or at the least a more profitable well organized and forward thinking business.

Exit Planning - Prepare for an out while you're still in

Running a succesful business is time consuming, leaving you little time to plan what may seem like distant succession issues. It's important, however, to outline an exit plan and make succession decisions as early as possible. Evaluating and grooming possible successors or preparing for an outside sale can take years. And it's never too early to make retirement and estate plans.

To read the full article from Sunbeltmergers.com... click here.

Seller Financing -- How a Broker Can Help

Another important factor relating to the asking price is the amount of cash involved in the sale. There is an old saying that the higher the full-price, the lower the down payment - and vice-versa. The sale of almost any business involves some seller financing. The smaller the down payment, the higher likelihood of a quick sale. No seller wants to take back his or her business because the buyer wasn't successful. On the other hand, a buyer wants to make sure that the business will not only pay for itself, but also provides sufficient income for his or her family's needs.

What it all boils down to is that the seller wants the buyer to be successful and the buyer wants to buy a successful business. With the amount of capital required in today's market to buy a business, sellers should feel optimistic that they are dealing with successful buyers.

Read on to find out more about four important ways a Broker can help in this process...

• A Valuable Service
• Maintaining Confidentiality
• The Future of the Business
• What Buyers Think

to read the full article... click here.

Sayonara for Your Small Business?

By Teresa Novelino
Portfolio.com, The Business Blotter
Feb. 28, 2011

Small-business owners who hoped tp sell their companies last year may find it easier to say goodbye this year, as the economic recovery picks up, a new survey finds.

That's the word from BizBuySell.com, a key Internet marketplace for those interested in buying or selling a small business. Its survey found that 76 percent of responding brokers nationwide believe that 2011 will be a "good year to sell."

So does that mean that the amount of small businesses sold are back to what they were before the downturn hit? Not yet. Most of the brokers who responded to the survey say they do not believe transaction volumes will return to prerecession levels for at least another 18 months. That's a grimmer outlook than they had in November, when 62 percent said the same, or in July, when 53 percent were prepared for an 18-month hold on the market's return.

The majority of those who say that the selling season is heating up now though - 69 percent - cite the recovering economy as the reason.

click here to read more.

Check out our January Buyer Newsletter

Great resource for buying a business...

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Check out our seller newsletter...

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31 businesses sold in 2010!

Congrats to the brokers here at Sunbelt Indiana Business Resource ... Over 1300 businesses sold since 1981, and 31 in 2010. To view a sampling check out out our 2010 tombstone sheets

Middle Market Trasactions: click here
Mainstreet Transactions: click here

Feel free to contact one of our experienced Business Intermediaries if you are in the market to sell your business, or are looking for a going business to invest your time and money.

PEGs and M&A professionals are encouraged - our M&A / Middle Market Intermediaries are very busy these days on some diverse and exciting acquisition searches, and have garnered some high revenue, high EBITDA engagements as well.

For further information, call 317-573-2100, or email indyinfo@sunbeltindiana.com.